Container tube



Nov. 23 1926. 7 1,607,993 0 R. e. F. LOEWY CONTAINER TUBE Filed Dec. 111925 12 5.} E E5 6 INVENTOR v ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES nAYMonn G, r. LoEw or JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK.

CONTAINER TUBE.

Application filed December '11, 1925. Serial No. 74,695.

Thisinvention relates to a novel and im '7 proved closure for use withcollapsible container tubes of the type commonly employed to holdmaterials such as paints, tooth paste and the like. Such tubes areusually provided with rigid necks which are threaded to receive caps.The caps are easily lost and even when not lost are oftentimes notreplaced when the tube is through being used. .The result is that thematerial in the tube is wasted, and, furthermore, the portion of thematerial exposed at the open neck becomes dried, and oftentimes the tubeitself is ruptured before the material can be forced out through theneck. Various means have been devised to overcome'the abovedifficulties, but none of them has been entirely satisfactory.

It is the object of my invention to provlde a closure for a collapsiblecontainer tube which shall be very cheaply and easily made and appliedto tubes of standard construction, and which sha l automatically closewhenpressure on the tube is stopped, but which shall permit-the materialin the tube to be readily forced out through the neck when pressure isapplied. This means that it is possible to discard the usual cap, ifdesired. as it performs no useful function after the tube is once'openedfor use. At

,the, same time the material in the tube is fully protected bythe'closure so-as to be kept moist and so that it will consequently bein a condition to be readily forced out ofthe tube when desired- In theacbompanying drawing in which I have shown selected embodiments of myin-v vention:

Figure-1 is a view,- part1 in elevation and partly in section, of a tu ehavingmy invention appliedthereto.

Figure 2 is an end view showing the top. of the tube of Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is a detailed transverse section through 'a closure, thisfigure being drawn on a greatly enlarged scale.

. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 4 but showing modificationsof my in' vention.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a collapsiblecontainer tube of .-well-known construction which needs no detaileddescription. This. tube terminates at one end in a breast 2 which isnormally of. a frusto-conical shape ter- 'This tubular portionterminates in an annular flange 7 which engages the breast 2 of the tubeadjacent the neck. The diaphragm 5 is provided with means to permitforcing of the material in the tube therethrough. This means ispreferably in the form of one or more slits made in the diaphragmwithout removing any substantial portion of the material ofthediaphragm. These slits may vary greatly in number and arrangement, and Ido not desire to limit myself to any specific arrange ment thereof. Forthe purposes of illustration I have shown a few different arrangementswhich I have found to be satisfactory in actual use. In Figures 1 to 4inclusive I have shown the two intersecting slits 8 and 9 extendingdiametrically across the diaphragm at right angles to each other.

In Figure 5 I "have shown the diaphragm 5 as provided with three slits1O intersecting approximately at the center of. the diaphram, while inFigure 6 I have shown one easily as pressure is applied to the tube, and

therefore the material will pass more freely through. the neck. 'In allthe forms shown it will be noted that the slits are radiating, that is,they lead outwardly from the point of intersection, and in the formshown in Figure 6 the singleslit may be considered as two slitsradiating outwardly from the centre of the diaphram.

The closure may be formed of any material which is resilient enough togive, when pressure is applied to the tube, and thus to permit thecontents thereof to come out and then return to normal position, afterpressure on the tube is released. -At the same cemented or otherwisesecured to the tube 'laid aside, the closure must adequately retain andprotect the contents. Various materials lnay be used for the closure.For example, I have found that rubber is quite satisfactory, but themost satisfactory material which I have discovered is that knowncommercially as soft celluloid although I do not intend to limit myselfto that particular kind of substance. it being obvious that other formsof cellulose material may be successfully used. This material. is assoft and resilient as rubber. but at the same time has more stiffnessand strength, so that it may be made thinner than rubber, whereby itwill bend more easily than a closure made of a thicker material. such asrubber.

By the use of a cellulose material such as soft celluloid it is possibleto dispose the closure entirely within the bore of the neck and stillhave it function. That is, the ma terial may be made so thin that itwill bend sufficiently without having to project beyond the edge of theneck. The advantage of this construction is obvious in that a shorter.

cap may be employed than where it is necessary to have the closureprojecting from the neck. Moreover, the closure itself requires lessmaterial and is also better protected "by being completely receivedwithin the bore of the neck. In the drawing I have shown the diaphram 5as being slightly rounded, so as to project a "very slight amount fromthe neck at the center of the diaphram. This form has certain advantagesin'that it permits the material extruded from the tube to be wiped off,but this form is not deemed essential.

From the above .it will be apparent that I have devised a novel andimproved closure which may be very cheaply and efiiciently made andapplied to tubes of standard form. The closure is placed inthe bore ofthe neck before the material is irfserted in the tube and is retained inplace by the pressure of the material against the flange 7, whichpressure forces the flange into tight engage- 2 and thus prevents.

ment with the breast displacement of the closure. No other fasteningmeans is necessary, although of course it is obvious that the closuremay be and neck, if desired. In actual practice, however, I} have foundthat an effective seal is provided by the means which I have disclosed.When the tube is put into use,

the usual cap may. be thrown away and the tube used in the usual manner.

As-the material in the tube is extruded, the flaps formed between theslits will give sufliciently to permit the material to pass through theneck but will return-at once to the posithe breast of said tube totion'shown in Figures 1 and 3 upon release of pressure on the tube.

I am aware that various changes in form and degree and in materials maybe made in my invention without v departing from the spirit thereof. I,therefore, consider myself entitled to all modifications that may fairlyfall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having abore therein. a closure disposed in said bore comprising a resilientdiaphram extending across said bore" and having a slit therein, atubular portion joined to said diaphram. and fitting the'wall of saidbore, and means to prevent displacement of said closure.

2. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having abore therein, a closure disposed in saidbore comprising a resilientdiaphragm of cellulose material extending across said bore and having aslit therein, a. tubular portion joined to said diaphragm and fittingthe wall of said bore.

and means to prevent displacement of said closure.

. I R. 3. A container tube having at one end thereof a breastterminating in a neck, said neck having a bore therein, a closure dis-*posed in'said bore comprising a resilient diaphragm extending acrosssaid bore and havinga slit therein, a tubular portion joined to saiddiaphragm and fitting the wall of said bore, and an annular flangejoined to said tubular portion and contacting with thereof abreastterminating in a neck, said neck having a bore therein, a closure'disposedin said bore comprisinga resilient diaphragm of cellulosematerial extending across saidbore and having a slit therein, a tubularportion joined to saiddiaphragni and fitting the wall of said bore, andan annular flange joined to said tubular portion and contacting with thebreast of said tube to prevent displacement of said closure.

5. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, saidneck-having abore therein, ,a closure for'said bore comprising a resilient diaphragmextending acrosssaid bore and having a slit therein whereby, whenpresure'is-applied-to the tube, the contents thereof may be forcedoutwardly through prevent displacethe slit. the material of thediaphragmon end thereof, said neck having a bore therein,

a closure for said bore comprising a resilient diaphragm of cellulosematerial extending across said bore and having a slit therein whereby,when pressure is applied to the tube. the contents thereof may be forcedout- \vardly through the slit, the material of the diaphragm on eitherside of the slit resiliently yielding to permit passage of the contentsdiaphragm extending across said bore and having a plurality of radiatingslits therein intersecting at a point whereby, when pressure is appliedto the tube, the contents thereof maybe forced outwardly through theslits, the material of the diaphragm on either side of the respectiveslits resiliently yielding to permit passage of the contents and uponrelease of'the pressure returning.

to its original condition to close the slits and retain the contents, inthe tube,and means for preventing displacement of said closure. q 8. Acontainer tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having a boretherein, a closure for said bore comprising a resilient diaphragm ofcellulose materiahextending across said bore and having a plurality ofradiating slits therein-intersecting at a point whereby, when pressureapplied to the tube, the contents thereof may be forced outwardlythrough the slits, the material of the diaphragm on either side of therespective slits resiliently yielding to permit passage of the contentsand upon release of the 'pressure returning to its original condition toclose the slits and retain the contents in the tube, and means forpreventing displacement of said closure. I

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature to this specification.

RAYMOND G. F, LOEWY.

.bore and having a slit t DISCLAIMER 1,607,993.-Raym0nd G. F. Loewy,Jackson Heights, N. Y. CONTAINER TUBE. Patent dated November 23, 1926.Disclaimer filed October 29, 1930, by the patentee.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the subject-matter of claims which areas follows:

1. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having abore therein, a closure disposed in said bore comprising a resilientdiaphragm extending across said bore and having a slit therein, atubular portion joined to said diaphragm and fitting the wall of saidbore, and means to prevent displacement of said closure.

3. A container tube having at one end thereof a breast terminating in aneck, said neck having a bore therein, a closure phragm extendingacrosssaid bore and having a slit therein, a tubular portion joined to saiddiaphragm and fitting the wall of said here, and an annular flangejoined to said tubular portion and contacting with the breast of saidclosure.

5. A .container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck havinga bore therein, a closure for said bore comprising a resilient diaphragmextending across said herein whereby, when pressure is applied tothetube, the contents thereof may be forced outwardly through the slit, thematerial of the diaphragm on either side of the slit resilientlyyielding to permit passage of the contents and upon release of thepressure returning to its original condition to close the slit andretain the contents in the tube, and means for preventing displacementof said closure.

6. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having abore therein, a closure for said bore comprising a resilient diaphragmof cellulose material extending across said bore and having a slittherein whereby, when pressure is applied to the tube, the contentsthereof may be forced outwardly through the slit, the material of thediaphragm on either side of the slit resiliently yielding to permitpassage of the contents and upon release of the pressure returning toits original condition to close the slit and retain the contents in thetube, and means for preventing displacement of said closure.

7. A container tube having therein, a closure for said bore said boreand having a plurality 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and s,

a neck at one end thereof, said neck having a bore comprising aresilient diaphragm extending across of radiating slits thereinintersecting at a point whereby, when pressure is applied to the tube,the contents thereof may be forcedoutwardly through the slits, thematerial of the diaphragm on either side of the respective slitsresiliently yielding to permit passage of the contents and upon releaseof the pressure returning to its original condition to close the slitsand retain the contents in the tube, and means for preventingdisplacement of said closure.

8. A container tube having a neck at one end thereof, said neck having abore therein, a closure for said bore comprising a resilient diaphragmof cellulose material extending across said here and having a pluralityof radiating slits therein intersecting at a point whereby, whenpressure is applied to the tube, the contents thereof may be forcedoutwardly through the slits, the material of the diaphragm on eitherside of the respective slits resiliently yielding to permit passageofthe contents and upon release of the pressure returning to its originalcondition to close the slits and retain the contents in the tube, andmeans for preventing-displacement of said closure.

[Ofiicial Gazette November 18, 1.930]

disposed in said bore comprising a resilient dia-' said tube to preventdisplacement of

